Lindau, Germany – Installation of Sonialvision G4

Asklepios Klinik relies on cutting-edge radiography and fluoroscopy

Duisburg, September 16, 2015

Asklepios-Klinik Lindau, Germany has equipped its radiology department with the high-performance R/F table Sonialvision G4, the new generation of X-ray and fluoroscopy systems. It complements the examination and therapy options, in particular in internal medicine but also in the departments for general surgery and spinal disorders. The launch of the new system was attended by Chief Executive Johann Bachmeyer and Chief Physicians PD Dr Heinz Linhart (Internal Medicine) and Prof Dr Ulrich Schöffel (Medical Director and Chief Physician of the Department for General and Visceral Surgery) as well as District Administrator Elmar Stegmann.

High operating speed, shorter examination time

Equipped with the largest available flat panel detector measuring 43x 43 cm, and a digital imaging platform, the universal Sonialvision G4 offers the hospital a large variety of applications across all departments. The R/F system provides high-resolution full leg and full spine images, which can be obtained from standing or lying patients. This makes it a valuable tool for clinicians for example for digital endo-prosthesis planning. The high operating speed of the R/F system reduces the exposure dose for patients and medical staff. Images can be viewed immediately after completion of the imaging procedure, thus shortening the examination time overall and reducing stress for the patients. The system’s examination table is also designed for the increasing number of bariatric patients and takes a patient weight of up to 318 kg.

Large, cross-departmental number of applications

“With this ultra-modern system we can examine patients with diseases of the biliary tract or impaired pancreatic drainage gently and efficiently”, explains PD Dr Heinz Linhart, Head of the Department for Internal Medicine of Asklepios-Klinik Lindau. “Typical applications are patients with pain in the upper abdomen or colics where there is a suspected blockage of the bile duct by gallstones. In combination with an endoscope the biliary tract can be examined and gall stones in the bile duct can be detected and removed if required”, says Linhart. Blockages of the bile duct caused by tumours can also be diagnozed with the new system. “Examining the gastrointestinal tract using R/F technology allows not only the detailed clarification of questions ahead of a possible visceral surgery intervention but also a review of the surgical result”, Prof Schöffel adds. “The dynamic functions of the oesophagus, the stomach and the entire intestinal tract as well as the renal function can be assessed reliably after administration of a contrast medium. Surgically formed joints can be reviewed as easily as the success of a reflux operation on the stomach. In addition, the representation of fistulas and monitoring of their treatment is substantially simplified”, Schöffel continues.

Diagnostic range completed

The hospital’s chief executive Johann Bachmeyer is very satisfied with the new system and stated that “the diagnostic range is now complete and significantly improved by this piece of high-tech engineering.” The large longitudinal coverage of Sonialvision G4 and the flat panel detector for example provide a wide imaging area. In addition, the advanced “SUREengine” (Shimadzu Ultimate Real-time Enhancement Engine) technology supports excellent image quality. It optimizes the entire image for a more detailed rendering of all areas examined, including smaller and otherwise faint target objects.